The Cakes' Special Treats

Pinkie's reward for eating the fresh meat was access to more of the basement. She got a longer chain, more toys, and most importantly, her luggage. She opened it and pulled out an empty photo album. She flipped through the blank pages, remembering what her sisters said when they gave it to her.

"You can take lots of pictures of all the fun parties you'll have, when you come back you can show us," Maud was so ecstatic when she said that her eyes were even fully opened.

"You better take pictures of everything interesting, we don't want to miss a thing!" Pinkie started crying as she thought of Blinkie and the rest of her family.

She quickly composed herself and smiled at the Cakes, "Thank you! I really missed this stuff," she flipped through the empty pages, eyes still glossy, "Can I have a camera? I want to use this," an idea popped into Pinkie's head. This would really test the lengths of her freedom. "Also... can I shower?"

The Cakes looked at each other, then moved out of Pinkie's light to talk. Pinkie could hear their whispers but couldn't make out what they were saying. She could vaguely make out the shape of one of them going to a closet. Carrot came out with a thick rope. He wrapped it around Pinkie's neck. Then Cupcake unchained her.

"Stay right next to me," Carrot said, Pinkie stuck by his side as they walked to the shower. He removed the rope, let her walk into the shower, then closed the door.

Pinkie stared at the knobs and experimentally turned the one with a 'c.' Coldwater shot down at her. She yelped and turned it back off. 'H for hot then?' She turned the other and relaxed as warm water fell upon her. Though it quickly became too hot, she turned the cold knob and felt the water go back to a reasonable temperature.

"Pinkie, you okay in there?" Carrot asked right outside the door. "Did you have a shower back where you lived before?"

"You guys have warm water in here! I used to bathe in a cold tub back home. This is amazing!" Pinkie watched the clear water turn brown as it came into contact with her. She spotted a bar of soap and lathered it. She watched the dirt come off with the help of the soap. The suds washed off to reveal her signature bubblegum pink fur, no longer dulled from dirt and grime. She read a bottle that said "shampoo, detangling and enriching," she squirted a sizable amount on her mane and tail and started cleaning those too. Once she finished cleaning herself, she merely sat in the water, enjoying its warmth.

She drifted off to sleep when a knock startled her awake. Mrs. Cake yelled through the door, "Pinkie Pie, you've been in there for ages. Get out," She quickly got up, turned off the shower, and stepped out. Mrs. Cake handed her a towel, then walked her back to her room.

Pinkie was chained back up without complaint. Cupcake started to leave, but Pinkie had one more request. "Can I have some scissors?"

Mrs. Cake stiffened before turning to face her, "Why?"

"My hair is super duper matted. I want to cut it off and start fresh."

Mrs. Cake looked visibly relieved, "I'll cut it for you," she went to the stairs and turned on the light. Pinkie recoiled but adjusted faster than before. Mrs. Cake walked to a cart and pulled a pair of scissors.

"Don't move," Cupcake threatened. She started by cutting off the mats. Then moved to make Pinkie look presentable. "I'm not a hairstylist, so it might not look great."

"Silly, I don't even have a mirror, I don't care what I look like," Pinkie said, keeping as still as a stone. Mrs. Cake finished, cleaned up the fallen hair, then left. Pinkie pulled out a brush from her personal stash, then started combing through her tail and mane. It was now very short and messy, but it was also easy to fix. It was as short as it had been when she was a baby filly. There was still a lot of hair on the floor, but she would deal with that later. For now, Pinkie was warm, clean, and happy, and that was enough for her.

Later in the week, while Pinkie was eating a salad filled with veggies and meat, her new favorite dish, the Cakes dragged down a stirring unicorn mare. The lights were already on, so Pinkie got to see exactly how they secured someone. The mare had woken up, so Cupcake stabbed her with a syringe. She went limp, then was placed on the table. They stretched out and secured her limbs in place. Straps went over her hooves, head, elbows, and knees.

"What was in the syringe?" Pinkie asked.

Carrot picked up a full syringe and a bag, then walked to her, “It's filled with a plant from the Everfree, they make ponies go unconscious when eaten," he pulled out a purple flower with an orange stem, "We grind it up to and put in saline, the effects are infused and when injected, make the pony sleep almost instantly."

Pinkie stared eagerly while grinning, "That's so cool! Do you have any other weird plants? Do they do other stuff? How did you guys find this out? Does it knock them out or make them nap? Is the Everfree scary? How hard are they to find? Can-"

Cupcake cut Pinkie off, "We'll answer your questions later Pinkie, right now we're busy."

Pinkie looked back at the mare, "What's her name?"

The Cakes glanced at each other before Cupcake answered, "Richy Rags, she worked as the boss in one of the most successful businesses in town," they didn't wait for Pinkie to respond. Instead, Carrot walked to Richy's head with a saw. Pinkie watched, concerned, but felt relieved when he started sawing her horn and not her head.

Richy's eyes shot open as soon as Carrot started sawing. She looked around rapidly while trying to break free. "Hi, Richy!" Pinkie yelled.

Richy's eyes fell on the pink pony just as her horn was completely severed. Blood pooled in her eyes, but her tears washed it away. Mr. Cake walked to Pinkie and asked if she wanted the horn.

'Horns are sharp... they are giving me a sharp object... they trust me enough to have a weapon!'

Pinkie accepted the "gift," as Richy watched in horror, realizing who her foalnappers were. "Carrot, you had a foal? You guys are keeping your foal in a basement?"

Pinkie looked at Richy confused, "I'm not their foal, I don't even live anywhere near here."

Richy's eyes shrank to the size of pins. "How long have you been down here? What have they done to you? Have they hurt you?"

Pinkie turned to Cupcake and Carrot before answering, "They haven't hurt me or anything. They starved me until I ate meat, but that was the worst of it. Now they even let me shower!" she said with a smile, "It's nice that you care about me and want to be my friend but I'm fine, really."

Richy tried her best to shake her head as she cried. She shut her eyes, so she didn't notice both Cakes getting ready for the harvest. They placed a knife on her chest, and Richy opened her eyes to look. She started pleading to Pinkie when the blade sunk deeper, "Pinkie, please help, this is bad, you and I can-" The pain was too much, Richy screamed.

"You're a lot nicer than Sunday. She swore at me and was a brat," Pinkie commented.

"You knew Sunday?" Richy was panting heavily, "She's been missing for weeks, she was last seen in the Everfree."

"I saw her in here, laying right where you are, she was loud. I like you better."

Richy never got to respond because the pain and blood loss clouded her thoughts until there was nothing left. Carrot, covered in blood, gave Pinkie a fresh piece of meat from Richy. She ate it hesitantly, but the need for friends overruled anything else. It tasted great, and Pinkie was having fun watching, so she was doing pretty well, all things considered.